hello, sometimes when i go to start the car, the starter makes a really loud screeching noise and doesn't seem to catch on the flywheel. it usually works the second time. it is really loud. has anyone ever had this happen ?

sounds like you need to adjust it, probably less shims, may have too much clearance.

Yep, either too much clearence between the starter and the flywheel or stripped flywheel teeth.

Most likely, it's a bad bendix, or the solenoid, but based on my last comment on technical matters, wtf would I know about working on cars against all these experts?

thanks, i'll look at the shims and flywheel. my starter and solenoid is 30+ years old so it may be that. could it also be if the battery is not fully charged, it doesn't give enough spit to fully engage it ? i just put the car back together after 20 years so i'll have to wait and see how often it does it. either way it is a freakin loud noise when it happens. thanks for all the replies, i appreciate it !!!

If you can pull it off the car AutoZone or other similar places can bench test it for free.

i had this problem again today. after three attempts of screeching (car hasn't been started in about 4 weeks). i decided to put a high amp charger jump on it, and it started right up with that. i thought someon was saying something somewhere about what this might mean but i can't find that. guess it could be a low battery with not enough juice or starter could be borderline bad like you said above.

It could be a few things:

1:) Shims - need to add or subtract
2:) Bad battery cable - corrosion can reduce current from battery to starter
3:) Week starter - old needs replaced / or need a higher amp starter due to compression ratio
4:) Warped on the engine where the starter mounts, thus causing bendix to release into the flywheel at an angle.

Has the engine been rebuilt? How old is the starter, cables, etc.?

Could also be chipped or chewed up teeth on the starter or flywheel.

Happens when people engage the starter when the engine's running.

Good one, didn't even think of that one.

Had that on my 1st car. '70 Mustang. The Bendix drive was iffy and was only partially engaging - chewed some teeth on my flywheel pretty good.

in hind sight, i should have looked at that part of the flywheel to see if it was sitting on some bad teeth, but of course didn't look. i think there are a few marginal teeth on the flywheel. starter and solenoid are 30 years old, battery is about 4-5 years old, connections should all be good. when it happens again, i'll see if i can look at the teeth where the flywheel is and see if they are chewed. probably should change out the starter and solenoid just to be safe. has the same number of shims it had before i took the engine apart, using same crank and flywheel but guess the new main bearings could have changed the thrust a bit.. seemed though like the added jump box fixed the issue or maybe it was just luck on the 4th try.

I would definitely look at the flywheel before installing a new starting. If the teeth on the flywheel are damaged they could potential do damage to the new starter. Just trying to save you from the headache of replacing more parts and additional expenses.

i wonder if it the "deep cycle marine" battery i'm using is causing the problem. see below internet search i did on the differences.
"•A car's battery is designed to provide a very large amount of current for a short period of time. This surge of current is needed to turn the engine over during starting. Once the engine starts, the alternator provides all the power that the car needs, so a car battery may go through its entire life without ever being drained more than 20 percent of its total capacity. Used in this way, a car battery can last a number of years. To achieve a large amount of current, a car battery uses thin plates in order to increase its surface area.
•A deep cycle battery is designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time. A deep cycle battery can provide a surge when needed, but nothing like the surge a car battery can. A deep cycle battery is also designed to be deeply discharged over and over again (something that would ruin a car battery very quickly). To accomplish this, a deep cycle battery uses thicker plates. "

The only issue I could see would be the loss of cranking amps as the battery has aged, or if your compression is higher than it was before the tear down. I prefer to only use a car battery for my applications, but that does not mean a deep cycle battery can not be used. Sitting would definitely lessen the life of a conventional car battery before it would a marine battery.

I have a decent battery I pulled out of the '68 Firebird that you can have if you want it.